Learning isn’t all mental. Scientists are starting to find that physical exercise increases the power of our minds and makes us better learners. Dr. John Ratey is a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. In his book about learning and the brain, he says that we need to exercise our bodies to improve our minds. Exercise doesn’t just increase important brain chemicals, it also helps our brain grow. Ratey says, The cells in our brains are connected “through leaves on tree-like branches and exercise causes those branches to grow.” When we increase our movement, we improve our thinking skills.